JaKo, I have the impression from the examples here with the R35/2 that it is a fine near distance 'portrait' lens with typical Leica central rendering (i.e. sharp and colourful and accurate) mated with excellent bokeh.
People very often under-estimate the crucial importance of central performance in the quest for equally good corners and evenness in the frame - a fool's errand in general, as oftentimes faults imbue lenses with special appearance. Curvature in CZ/CY 28mm lenses for example.
These days, while it's important to be aware of these characters, I prefer to just let the lens designer's ghost breathe life into my work, lol, they know more than many give them credit for. This is now one of the more desirable R lenses for me, and they still go for a fair price thankfully - they must have sold a few. Just looked it up - around 30,000 units for v2.
philip_pj wrote: I have the impression from the examples here with the R35/2 that it is a fine near distance 'portrait' lens with typical Leica central rendering…
I prefer to just let the lens designer's ghost breathe life into my work, lol, they know more than many give them credit for.
Thank you Philip for your input. I like your take on this! Perhaps some of the older designs have few disadvantages compering to today’s fine coated, computer designed and produced with computer aids lenses, but despite that there is some magic in them that many find so desirable. I am positive it’s the clever mix of compromise, virtues and imperfections of earlier designs that makes them so unique.
Anyhow, in my case I have much to learn about the glass I own and find how to balance their strong and weak(er) points in daily use.
'I have much to learn about the glass I own..'
As do we all I suspect, I am trying hard to identify the ones I really want, then *keep* them a long time to do just this. best, philip.
JaKo wrote:
Thank you Philip for your input. I like your take on this! Perhaps some of the older designs have few disadvantages compering to today’s fine coated, computer designed and produced with computer aids lenses, but despite that there is some magic in them that many find so desirable. I am positive it’s the clever mix of compromise, virtues and imperfections of earlier designs that makes them so unique.
Philip is one of our Wise Old Men on Alt. While hi-tech lenses have their uses, there is certainly a place for the classics with their design tradeoffs, "rounder" rendition, and outright flaws. My favorite Leica comes from their middle period (1970 or so), the Tele-Elmar 135/4. It is M mount, but is easily used on any DSLR - without mirror strikes - by unscrewing the head. The image quality is striking, but not harsh. Single coating is part of the magic.
zhangyue wrote: ...no wonder you still listen 300B tube.
Hey, I sense parallel interests
You know, single ended amps are the way to go, and WE 300B has something in common with Leica glass – magic glow.
Your last ‘Lux’ set is wonderful; 1st and last are my faves. Also, your earlier post of a street lamp on blue, cloudy sky background is quite interesting.
BTW, did you have to modify your 35 and 50 ‘Lux’ lenses or D700 for mirror clearance? I may be considering Lux 50 E60 , but I am not keen on permanently altering lenses.
Alex and Jako, thanks for comments.
I have to trim down my 35lux quite a bit. 3-4mm. I won't modify such expensive lens either if mine is not already half way there when I bought it and it is not a mint shape lens.
My 50lux is 1st version, so no problem here. Even e60 has no issue I believe.
I wish I can afford 50lux E60. It is a winderful lens, and might be best 50mm ever made in my book. But get another one with 7 50mm is Unjustified.
WO of my old 50lux has magic to me. I must be lucky to have decent copy. It will bury with me I have used so many lens and I know what I am talking about.
As for 35cron, I feel you might be able to put your subject in that Zone you mentioned as long as you focus by eyes or LCD, it is FC, just not suit for planar subject. But not soft at that zone.
crazeazn wrote:
michael, you post so many pictures of your kids its like i know them personally (feels like they are the ones I teach in sunday school)
I know, that is my problem. My life is pretty much attached with them at this stage. I thank them give me such opportunity. Part of reason I bought these expensive lens are take their pictures. At least that is my excuse
For leica R, if I want join this thread, it is mainly family picture as I no longer take DSLR with me traveling and Leica m is better tool for other field for me for the time being.
zhangyue wrote:
My life is pretty much attached with them at this stage. I thank them give me such opportunity. Part of reason I bought these expensive lens are take their pictures. At least that is my excuse
Michael. I have the same problem. Before my wife and I had our first child a few years back, I had almost given up on photography for past 10-15 years, shooting happily with my Canon Powershot SD110. Then I needed a "better" camera for our family pics, bought a Nikon D90 and 35 1.8DX and you know what I have now Keep sharing your pics, they are wonderful.
zhangyue wrote:
I know, that is my problem. My life is pretty much attached with them at this stage. I thank them give me such opportunity. Part of reason I bought these expensive lens are take their pictures. At least that is my excuse
For leica R, if I want join this thread, it is mainly family picture as I no longer take DSLR with me traveling and Leica m is better tool for other field for me for the time being.
I need control my post.
no need for control, i love the photos! thats why we are here. i'm sure ill be the same way when i'm a parent.
A pano from the CSU winter graduation, where one of my nieces got her BA in Anthropology, with the Summilux 35. The second with my (fuzzy) kid and the 250/4 with the Minolta 1.4x.
zhangyue wrote:
I know, that is my problem. My life is pretty much attached with them at this stage. I thank them give me such opportunity. Part of reason I bought these expensive lens are take their pictures. At least that is my excuse
For leica R, if I want join this thread, it is mainly family picture as I no longer take DSLR with me traveling and Leica m is better tool for other field for me for the time being.
I need control my post.
zhangyue - Your children pictures are always of a very high standard and very inspiring, so just keep them coming!
freaklikeme wrote:
I thought the reason people had children was so they'd always have models.
If not that, then why? They're so expensive and they often smell unappealing.
Expensive I agree, especially here in US. but they have best smell in the world I guess most parent will agree.
Thanks for you all. I guess in other sense, from my post, hopefully, people can still see something like how each lens performance, rendering, characters, drawback. So at least there is some contribution. for people interesting particular lens. Many people are amateurs like me that most time, portrait models are their family member or friends.
zhangyue wrote:
Alex and Jako, thanks for comments.
I have to trim down my 35lux quite a bit. 3-4mm. I won't modify such expensive lens either if mine is not already half way there when I bought it and it is not a mint shape lens.
My 50lux is 1st version, so no problem here. Even e60 has no issue I believe.
I wish I can afford 50lux E60. It is a winderful lens, and might be best 50mm ever made in my book. But get another one with 7 50mm is Unjustified.
WO of my old 50lux has magic to me. I must be lucky to have decent copy. It will bury with me I have used so many lens and I know what I am talking about.
As for 35cron, I feel you might be able to put your subject in that Zone you mentioned as long as you focus by eyes or LCD, it is FC, just not suit for planar subject. But not soft at that zone.
The E60 has a rubber ring around rear lens, and this ring hit the mirror near infinity position. I think this ring - protective for rear lens. On the leitax site shows that this ring removed and all "fine". Not good decision, very simple way to damage rear lens. The better way cut this ring a bit, for ~0.3mm, but not to interference with the rear surface of the lens.
Michael, pictures of your kids always bring a smile; please keep posting them. They are more fun to see than say, dono, birds?
And yes, as an amateur photographer I learn from contributors like you about lens’ characteristics, good and bad points; something that is not always written objectively by pro reviewers.
While hi-tech lenses have their uses, there is certainly a place for the classics with their design tradeoffs, "rounder" rendition, and outright flaws. My favorite Leica comes from their middle period (1970 or so), the Tele-Elmar 135/4. It is M mount, but is easily used on any DSLR - without mirror strikes - by unscrewing the head. The image quality is striking, but not harsh. Single coating is part of the magic.
Keep sharing your pics, they are wonderful.
